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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. According to Augustine, what are competing influences on an individual's thinking?
(a) Priests and Rabbis.
(b) Laborers and land owners.
(c) Husbands and wives.
(d) The devil and angels.

2. What was the second type of criticism that Augustine suggests "On Christian Doctrine" would face?
(a) Criticism from those who face punishment if they try to apply it.
(b) Criticism from those who claim too many Christians could not access proper training.
(c) Criticism from those who claim that Augustine relied too much on training and not enough on divine guidance.
(d) Criticism from those who refuse or are unable to apply it.

3. What does Augustine claim is the consequence of refusing to learn in a proper setting for Scriptural learning?
(a) The student does not receive access to the types of references that make learning complete.
(b) The student does not learn from the experience of a learned devotee of Scripture.
(c) The student does not benefit from an environment that has been modeled by Scriptural standards.
(d) The student loses the opportunity to participate in mutual love.

4. What doctrine does Augustine introduce to explain how Truth can be seen?
(a) The doctrine of the "inner eye" that can see eternal truths even when tainted by sin because it is illuminated by God.
(b) The doctrine of "community vision" is achieved when individuals join their desires to seek eternal truths illuminated by God.
(c) The doctrine of "things and signs" helps an individual know which things and signs illuminate eternal truths.
(d) The doctrine of "special gifts of seeing" that God grants when individuals seek eternal truths illuminated by God.

5. How does Augustine use the items of his example to illustrate his distinction?
(a) That Adam made the choice of sin, but Cain responded out of the impulse passed to him from Adam's choice.
(b) The meal is enjoyed, but the pot is used.
(c) That critics who do not understand show a lack of interest to discover, but those who believe in special gifts use a false faith to rationalize their lack of interest.
(d) That Lucifer sought to discredit Job's faith, but God realized the depth of Job's convictions.

6. How does Augustine characterize things in Book One?
(a) They are the items that God puts before Christians to use.
(b) They are all items that fall under God's authority.
(c) They are ordinary objects that are not used to signify something.
(d) They are the items that God puts before Christians to enjoy.

7. How does Augustine describe humans?
(a) Humans are above things because they use them.
(b) Humans are things that use language as a symbol.
(c) Humans are things that are subject to the laws of God.
(d) Humans are things that can "enjoy," love and "use" things.

8. What is the problem for the critics that Augustine addresses in the Preface when they choose to teach?
(a) If God only communicates the truth of Scripture through those who have "special gifts", is not God limiting his communication with the pagan who has not received such gifts?
(b) If these critics believe students of Scripture can only receive understanding through "special gifts", why do they attempt to teach about "special gifts"?
(c) If these critics believe that Scripture can only be achieved through "special gifts", isn't God's power of communicating limited out side of his act to give the gifts?
(d) If these critics believe that understanding Scripture can only be achieved through the application of "special gifts", doesn't their effort to teach expose their students to personal bias that might interfere with their "special gifts"?

9. What does Augustine recommend to avoid the negative influences on individual thought?
(a) Isolating from temptations.
(b) Paying careful attention to rules for Scriptural learning.
(c) Devoting regular time in prayer to become sensitive to Divine guidance.
(d) Regular participation in church activities.

10. Why does Augustine expect the method of accessing knowledge he lacks to be successful?
(a) Augustine has great respect for other learned Priests within his sphere.
(b) Augustine believes God guides those who gather in Christian community.
(c) Augustine is familiar with the classification system of the library at Hippo Regius.
(d) Augustine believes that God will give to him because God gives to those who "give away," as does Augustine when he teaches.

11. What should be the nature of the relationship between humans and God according to Augustine?
(a) God should be enjoyed by humans.
(b) Humans should fear the authority of God over judgment.
(c) Humans should submit to God's authority.
(d) Humans should become like God.

12. What is the doctrine that Augustine claims critics of human teaching defend?
(a) That God will communicate through signs and symbols.
(b) That God will communicate the meaning of Scripture through "special gifts."
(c) That God will communicate through the in dwelling of the Holy Spirit.
(d) That God will communicate through tongues.

13. What does Augustine identify as the relationship between all other things and the object of ultimate worship?
(a) Other things are intended to be used as a means of exhibiting Christian love.
(b) Other things are intended to be used as a means of exhibiting Christian love.
(c) All other things can be used for God's purposes through the application of special gifts.
(d) All other things are used as a means to enjoy the Trinity.

14. What does Augustine claim to be the central law of love and the message of Christianity?
(a) That one thing that is illuminated truth is loving God and then thy neighbor.
(b) That the one illuminated truth is to love thy neighbor who loves God.
(c) That one should love God and love thy neighbor.
(d) That one should find illuminated truth to love God and thy neighbor.

15. What does Augustine reason is the consequence to human teaching if learning comes from Divine gifts?
(a) That human teaching becomes a validation of Divine gifts.
(b) That Divine gifts work as a validation of human teaching.
(c) That Divine gifts become the standard against which all teaching is measured.
(d) That there is no point to human teaching if learning only comes through Divine gifts.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Augustine relate Truth and God?

2. What setting does Augustine recommend for sound Scriptural learning?

3. Augustine endeavors to answer many questions about what subject in Book One?

4. How does Augustine characterize the argument that his teaching is not needed because it comes from a human source?

5. What is the primary tool for interpretation for the critics that Augustine primarily focuses on in the Preface?

(see the answer keys)

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